Police reform still a long way off: Analysts

Police reform still a long way off: Analysts

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Three years after separating from the Indonesian Military (TNI),
the police have yet to reform themselves by getting rid of bad
habits such as corruption and the use of violence in dealing with
the public.

A criminologist from the University of Indonesia (UI),
Adrianus Meliala, said on Monday that it was still questionable
whether the police were trying to become a professional police
force.

"We cannot say they are not trying to curb corruption,
violence and ineffective working habits, but we have to ask
whether they have tried hard enough" Adrianus told The Jakarta
Post on Monday.

The police separated from the TNI in 2001 in a bid to improve
their professionalism and shed militaristic tendencies in dealing
with the public. Now, the police are directly responsible to the
President.

Adrianus said the new structure offered the police force all
the basic resources and privileges to improve themselves.

"But the privileges cannot resolve the problems if they are
not willing to give up their bad habits," Adrianus said.

Meanwhile, rights campaigner Hendardi from the Indonesian
Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) said despite the
positive steps forward the police had taken, some things needed
to be changed.

"The way police handle protesters is something that they need
to address. As civilian guards, they should learn more about
human rights," Hendardi said when asked to comment on reform
within the police.

The police force will celebrate its 57th anniversary on
Tuesday, the third after being separated from the TNI in 2001.

Despite the separation, the public remain distrustful of the
police as corruption and abuses continue.

Cases such as the attack on Tempo magazine office and editors
by a group of hoodlums damaged the police's image as they failed
to stop the violence.

Adrianus said the police should improve their professionalism,
especially in establishing a solid framework, in order to sustain
their internal reform.

"They should have a solid platform to ensure professionalism
and independence from any political interests," he said.